BlogPoll Ballot Week 6

Saturday’s block of games did little to excite the imagination of college football fans. every game in the Big Ten except for Michigan State’s trip to Columbus and the Battle for the #LOLTrophy. The Florida-Alabama battle in the Swamp turned out to be a dud (not completely unexpectedly except by delusional Gator fans… sorry, I had to deal with a lot of them this weekend).

Even the featured battle of Wisconsin and Nebraska turned into a Heisman-reel show for Russell Wilson. So much so, in fact, that the Badgers have reportedly launched Russell-Mania as their official Heisman campaign for the transfer quarterback. Not quite #PersaStrong, but he might be the Big Ten’s best bet for a Heisman.

What we learned this weekend was that Wisconsin is really really good and a real threat not only to win the Big Ten, but also the national championship. The Leaders Division does not feel as strong as the Legends Division with a weakened Ohio State and Penn State still ahead and the surging Illinois team that mounted the comeback against Northwestern.

But we are not talking about that game. At least not here.

Things are setting up well for the Badgers to make a run at the crystal football in New Orleans this year. That is, if Wisconsin does not have karma come back and bite it after continuing to put up running up the score type numbers.

As with every week, here is my ballot for Blog Poll this week. My explanations are below. Leave your comments and I will consider them for a revision of the ballot. The final ballots are due at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Monday. UPDATED 5:34 p.m. CT

1. LSU
Last Week: W 35-7 over Kentucky; This Week: vs. 16 Florida (2:30 p.m. CT/CBS)Buzz: All eyes seem to be turning to Nov. 5 and the clash in Tuscaloosa between LSU and Alabama. It will come in due time. The matchup with the Gators at Death Valley will provide the Tigers another stern challenge. But the news that John Brantley will be out with a high ankle sprain and that true freshman quarterback Jeff Driskel will get the start does not bode well for the Gators. This, of course, a week after Alabama’s defensive and offense line simply dominated the game in the Swamp. This might be our best point of comparison before LSU and Alabama meet on the field.

2. Alabama
Last Week: W 38-10 over No. 16 Florida; This Week: vs. Vanderbilt (6 p.m./ESPNU)Buzz: The Crimson Tide rolled over the Gators at the Swamp on Saturday night. There is no other way to put it. Trent Richardson took a respectable Florida defensive line and turned them into his jelly by the second half. The vaunted Alabama defensive line shut down Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey, two of the top rushers in the country, to eight yards on 14 carries. Just absolutely stifling stuff.

3. Oklahoma
Last Week: W 62-6 over Ball State; This Week: vs. No. 22 Texas at Dallas (11 a.m./ABC)Buzz: Oklahoma has been caught victim by how overwhelmingly good Alabama and LSU look. But the Sooners are still in good position. And a 62-6 win over anybody certainly looks pretty good. Now the Sooners get their archrivals from the Longhorn State for the Red River Rivalry. This is a big test for the Sooners who need to keep reminding everyone they are elite, especially as the win over the Seminoles seems to lose its luster with each passing week.

4. Wisconsin
Last Week: W 48-17 over No. 12 Nebraska; This Week: vs. Indiana (11 a.m./BTN)Buzz: The Badgers announced themselves as legitimate national championship contender by deconstructing the Cornhuskers in the Big Ten opener. It was quite the rude welcome to the conference. Russell Wilson though really makes Wisconsin a complete team. He has a lot of command at quarterback and it is hard to remember that this is his first (and only) year in Madison. Wilson completed 14 of 20 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson has been the difference to complement the strong running attack led by Montee Ball.

5. Boise State
Last Week: W 30-10 over Nevada; This Week: at Fresno State (10/7, 8 p.m./ESPN)Buzz: This is the penalty Boise State must pay for playing in the Mountain West. There is nothing that Boise State can do to stop the tide of impressive wins the schools ahead of them can build. Kellen Moore had a bad game Saturday, completing 19 of 33 passes, throwing two picks and a career-low 142 yards. Yikes. Boise State got its revenge, but needed to keep rolling over opponents to stay nationally relevant while they languish in the Mountain West.

11. Michigan
Last Week: W 58-0 over Minnesota; Next Week: at Northwestern (6 p.m./BTN)Buzz: Who had the Wolverines shutting out an opponent this year after the way they played defense last year? Anybody? I did not think so. Minnesota may not feature an elite, well, anything. The Gophers may not even have a decent anything. But holding a team to 177 total yards while running up and down through them deserves some major kudos. Michigan looked good against the Legends Division’s punching bag. Hopefully NU will provide a sterner challenge.

12. Nebraska
Last Week: L 48-17 to No. 4 Wisconsin; Next Week: vs. Ohio State (7 p.m./ABC)Buzz: The Cornhuskers got a rude welcome to the Big Ten. Some of the shortcomings the team had shown in non-conference play were on full display as Wisconsin just dominated the game. Nebraska’s first home Big Ten game will not be as easy either. The Buckeyes get their suspended players back (coincidentally) and put in a decent defensive effort in the loss to the Spartans. Nebraska has to pick itself up pretty quickly to be ready for this matchup.

24. Michigan State
Last Week: W over Ohio State 10-7; Next Week: vs. Michigan (10/5, TBD)Buzz: The Spartans turned in an impressive defensive performance in scoring a win at the Horseshoe. Yes, Ohio State looks pretty hapless with a freshman quarterback and without the suspended players (due back this week). Michigan State’s defense was nasty in holding Ohio State to 178 total yards and 35 rushing yards. The Buckeyes did not score until there were 33 seconds left. That says more about Kirk Cousins and his veteran offense struggling more than anything. The Spartans have a week to prepare for Denard Robinson and the Wolverines.

Why No Northwestern: Does this need explanation? The Wildcats lost a 28-10 lead in the second half and Pat Fitzgerald fell to 2-4 in Big Ten games when leading by 17 or more points. That is a very very very very bad statistic. Like embarrassingly bad. Something has to change there. And until it does, Northwestern probably should not be ranked.

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Honestly, I was not too impressed with Illinois. A rusty Dan Persa picked them apart and NU’s defense looked really good for three quarters of the game. That is me. Maybe I am holding too much of a grudge. I still think Michigan State is a better team.

Scooter

I agree. If you could give both teams a loss, it was deserved this weekend. Illinois didn’t win that game, our coordinators did it for them.

hudhaifa3

Trumpy out for year with a ACL tear…..no bueno

Scooter

I’ve been looking forward to this since Saturday… Nothing like arguing about meaningless rankings to take your mind off of a loss :)

Unfortunately, I think I’m really close to 100% agreement with you this week, particularly near the top. I have one issue. You dropped Texas and MSU after solid wins? Auburn may have beaten South Carolina, but that doesn’t make them a good team. (full disclosure: I admit that I didn’t watch that game). I’m not ready to rank Auburn above SC until I see something to prove to me that it wasn’t a fluke. How about:

21 Texas
22 South Carolina
23 Michigan State
24 Auburn

Marc

I agree with Scooter about Texas and MSU – they shouldn’t drop. You also have Houston way higher than they deserve – they haven’t even played anyone with a winning record.

Henry in CT

Illinois is ranked fourth best in the B1G in both polls (ahead of MSU) and they have wins over four quality opponents (two ranked) yet you are unimpressed? Clearly you don’t think much of their win over NU. Is this what you really want to be saying? By down grading Illinois you are showing what you think of NU yet NU is just a couple of bad coaching decisions away from being 4-0 and probably ranked.

CM

Illinois has beaten ONE ranked team

CM

And they have TWO quality wins, not four. Two and half if you’re feeling nice toward Western Michigan.

Henry in CT

You are right CM. This diminishes what I said. I was thinking that they played Mizzou and ASU. However ASU has wins over two ranked teams which means something and WM beat connecticut this last weekend.

Philip Rossman-Reich

I certainly respect that opinion. Maybe I am being a little bitter. If Illinois is 6-0, I will put them in much higher than I normally would.

Henry in CT

Illinois plays Indiana next week.

Philip Rossman-Reich

Yeah, I thought about it while I was making dinner and you are right. Have to let go of my hate and come over to the dark side. Illinois is in the poll now. :(

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